Behind the Blazers Locker Room Door: At Oklahoma City

About the only good thing about covering a game in Oklahoma City is that the hotel I stay at is literally 20 feet from the Ford Center.

Other than that, it's easily No. 29 on the NBA tour of cities, even worse than Sacramento and Milwaukee. One reason why? When I arrived here with Oregonian photographer Bruce Ely (second roadie of the year for Bruuuce!), it was about 9:30 p.m. and we were starved. The downtown here might as well have had tumbleweeds blowing through it, but they do have what could pass as a lively section called "Bricktown" - which was within walking distance.

Ten years ago, I would have been ecstatic. When I broke in on the beat with Jim Beseda, we hit Hooters in practically every city. It was a ritual: Sometimes before a game. Sometimes after. Sometimes both. Every time it was 12 9-1-1 wings and a pitcher of beer. It's one reason why I was 220 pounds not long ago. Now that I'm healthy again and back to 180 pounds, the only wings I will eat are from Portland's Fire on the Mountain, which are the only wings in the world that are so good that they are worth the calories. Which reminds me ... Channing Frye says he has downed 86 wings in one sitting at Fire on the Mountain. I think he claimed six were El Jeffe's (burn your tongue hot) and the rest were BBQ. I still can't believe one person can eat 86 (my record is 17), even though one day I asked the owner at the S.E. Burnside location and she confirmed that 86 by Frye was the word among her employees... Seriously, though ... 86 wings?!? Wow. I've said it once, I'll probably say it a million times more ... Channing Frye is a piece of work. He's the everyday-man's man, and in Blazers history he has to rank among the players who most embody and embrace what Portland is about. Gotta love him.

At any rate, Bruuuce and I are starving and left with two options: IHOP and Hooters. Since neither of us are nearing 70, we choose Hooters. When we got there, we found we weren't the only ones who made that decision - the place was packed, including a table with Steve Blake (drinking water) who was there with an old friend and two of his buddies. We exchanged pleasantries and tried to find a seat. Blake watched the end of the first half between Denver and Utah and split. Bruce and I ordered salads, and I remembered why I stopped going to Hooters and why I sent Joe Freeman on the last road trip here.

OKC blows.

Roy gets a day off, I get a turnover

I had two things on my pregame agenda: Find out if Rudy Fernandez would play - he missed the last game because of back spasms - and talk to Thunder coach Scott Brooks about Nate McMillan.

Read more

For more of Jason Quick's Behind the Locker Room Door series, click here.

When I arrived on the court, Brandon Roy was sitting on the bench and he greeted me warmly with a "What's up Quick?" Usually, that's a good sign for me that Roy is feeling open and talkative. As I have said before, I've tried to be careful with Brandon as to not wear on him and suffocate him. As a reporter, he is my Most Valuable Player: he's not only the top player on the team, he is the most insightful, the most profound and just the overall best quote. Some colleagues say I have it so good because I'm around the team more than anyone, which is true. But if you don't play it right, that can be a detriment. There's such a thing as being around too much. Players, and coaches, need their space and I'm constantly trying to read when guys are getting sick of me. For whatever reason, and despite his warm greeting, I just didn't feel it with Brandon on this night. We exchanged a little banter during his warm up - I asked him about the black tights that he was wearing on his left leg, which extended from his groin to his ankle. I said I thought the NBA banned those tights back when Kobe and Dwyane Wade were wearing them as fashion statements - but Roy said players could wear them for medical reasons. I asked him if his was a medical reason, but he didn't answer. I don't know if he didn't hear me, or if he was too engrossed in his warmup, but I forgot to follow up on this with Nate, Jay Jensen or Roy. If there is such a thing as turnovers for reporters, I would get one for not following up on Roy's knee. Judging from how little he played, and then later reading an internet post that Mike Barrett had reported that Roy was questionable for the game because of his knee, I kicked myself for dropping the ball. In retrospect, Brandon's aching left knee had all the signs of approaching troublesome status, but I can't be sure because I forgot to follow up. I've got to be better than that.

At any rate, for some reason I just didn't have a good vibe about Brandon. I decided before the game even started that unless he hit the final shot or was involved in a pivotal play, I would give him the night off. It's part of a pact that I made with Brandon during his rookie year as gesture of my appreciation for his being so accommodating and open. I told him if he ever wanted a day off from being interviewed, all he had to do was ask. At the same time, I told him I would give him days off if I ever felt he needed it. I had a similar agreement with Damon Stoudamire, who was also a go-to-guy for the media.

In three seasons, Brandon has asked for the day off once, maybe twice. After years of covering a team when the best player - Rasheed Wallace - would not even give an interview let alone speak to me, I feel incredibly blessed and spoiled to have Roy.

'Practice what you preach'

As I'm waiting on the bench to see how, or if, Fernandez will warm up, assistant Joe Prunty joins me on the bench and we exchange small talk. After nine seasons as an assistant in San Antonio and the past three in Dallas, this is Joe's first year on the Blazers' staff and he has blended in seamlessly ... except in one area, where he sticks out like a sore thumb: His penmanship. Before games, the assistant coaches rotate in having to do the locker room board, which includes that game's scouting report. There is no question when a game is Prunty's because he has ridiculously perfect handwriting.

"You can tell he wasn't brought up to be a player,'' Steve Blake quipped earlier this season in Cleveland as the players surveyed Prunty's work. "That's the writing of a guy who was brought up to be a coach.''

The Blazers players, probably from years of signing autographs, all admit they have terrible handwriting.

Joe and I talk about restaurants in San Antonio, but before we get too involved, Rudy comes onto the court looking - as usual - like he just woke up. In mid-sentence, Prunty spots Rudy. "Gotta go" Prunty says, and within seconds Prunty is throwing chest pass after chest pass to Rudy. Within 15 shots, I can tell Rudy is feeling loose, agile and ready to play.

It was time to get Thunder coach Scott Brooks.

Earlier this season, I remember talking to Nate McMillan about the team's toughness. At the time, there was a growing perception that the Blazers were soft. We were talking how maybe someday one of the Blazers needed to throw a punch. I asked Nate if he had ever been punched in the face. He said he had, during an NBA game, but that he couldn't remember which player had hit him.

That day, I searched the internet for an account of McMillan being punched. The closest thing I came to was McMillan, playing for Seattle, getting in a tussle with Houston's Scott Brooks during Game 5 of the 1993 Western Conference semifinals. Both were ejected.

It wasn't the incident McMillan was referring to, but nonetheless, I told myself that I had to talk to Brooks about it the next time I saw him. I forgot the last time OKC was in Portland, so I made a mental note to corner him this time.

Here's the story, as told by Brooks and McMillan:

"It was a pretty heated rivalry, Seattle and Houston,'' Brooks remembered. "It was good basketball. Both teams played hard and they cared about their teammates. It was just a pride thing.''

It was the third quarter of Game 5 in Seattle. McMillan, a large point guard, was being guarded by Brooks, a small and scrappy reserve.

"I was guarding him, and he didn't like the way I was guarding him,'' Brooks said. "And he made sure I backed off a few feet from him.''

How did McMillan do that?

"He threw an elbow,'' Brooks said. "Then I got a little closer. Then he threw another elbow. And I got a little closer. Then he threw a third elbow, and that's when it happened.''

The "it" is better described by McMillan.

"We exchanged some contact - as you do in games - and all of the sudden we were on the floor wrestling,'' McMillan said. "He was basically just harassing, ball pressuring. I felt they were getting away with some fouling and I kind of lost it and forgot we were on the basketball floor.''

As the two wrestled on the floor, Brooks came to a realization.

"I remember thinking he is bigger, stronger, tougher and 'What was I thinking?','' Brooks said.

When Brooks said that, it made me chuckle. I remember the first time I met McMillan, I was stunned at what a large man he is. And it's something I hear quite often from people who meet him for the first time. He is a legit 6-foot-5, and is very solidly built.

At any rate, there was never any lasting ill will between the two. There was debate in the press about whether one or both would be suspended for Game 6, but neither were. The series went to seven games, where the Sonics advanced to the Western Conference Finals against Phoenix. The Suns won in 7 and went on to lose to Chicago in six.

In the summer of 1993, Brooks agreed to go on a cruise to the Caribbean as part of an NBA event. When he boarded, he remembers stopping in his tracks. There on the same cruise was McMillan.

"I was like, 'OK. This is kind of a little awkward now,''' Brooks said. "I remember saying, 'Uh oh. What's going to happen now? I don't have my teammates to help me out.' But it was fine. We talked, and that's the good thing about basketball - you compete, you fight, you get into it, you challenge each other. There's so many games-within-a-game, and that was our little game. We were matched up, and I had to do everything I had to to compete in this league. And now looking back, we probably both understand what happened, why it happened, and now we have some fun with it.''

From what I can tell, McMillan is rather embarrassed by the incident. When I brought it up before the game, he cocked his head to the side.

"Now why do we have to go back there?'' McMillan asked.

But the more we talked about it, the more McMillan warmed up. Eventually, he even saw a correlation between the incident and his coaching message to his current Blazers.

"It was just competition,'' McMillan said. "He was a great competitor. Both he and I came in to the league in similar situations, where we had to make it happen on the floor. We weren't stars coming into the league. Our energy and scrappiness, that type of thing, we had to make something happen.

"It's like what I talk about to this team all the time,'' McMillan said. "I guess it's what they say ... practice what you preach ... well, when I say it, it's from experience.''

Quite a compliment

After I was done getting the story behind his tussle with McMillan, I thought I would ask Brooks about this year's Blazers. With classic comedic timing and delivery, Brooks nailed his opening line.

"Great coach. Great coach, a lot of respect for him,'' Brooks said, causing a crowd of reporters to bust up laughing.

Then he got serious and gave a pretty telling review of the Blazers. As you are reading what Brooks said, think to yourself whether you would have ever imagined a coach saying this about these Blazers this year. It could be the biggest compliment McMillan and the players have received to date.

"No, really, he's a good coach. The team plays hard. That team has a lot of toughness, they get after it,'' Brooks said. "They don't take a lot of possessions off. Offensively, they move the ball. They have a star - a couple of star players - who can create for themselves. They have an inside and outside attack. I ... there is a reason why they are right up there with the best teams in basketball. And it seems like they play well together from the games I have seen.''

I imagine McMillan would smile and stick his chest out a little after reading that. In four years of covering McMillan, I can't tell you how often he talks about playing hard, toughness, not taking possessions off, moving the ball, being connected ... basically everything Brooks said his team does.

It's times like these - with the Blazers now on the cusp of their first playoff appearance since 2003 - that you reflect on exactly what McMillan has accomplished here in Portland. From his first practice in Portland, when he kicked out Zach Randolph for dogging it, to Darius Miles leaving the bench and getting dressed at halftime in Los Angeles, to Sebastian Telfair bringing a gun on the team plane.

And now, thanks to some pretty big help along the way from Steve Patterson, John Nash and Kevin Pritchard - we are here, with this team, that plays this hard and conducts itself in such a professional manner. A lot of people deserve a lot of credit for the turnaround, but I don't know if there has been one person who has put his stamp on what is going on here more than Nate McMillan.

L.A. sticks up for the All-Star

When I entered the locker room, it was pretty barren. But in the right corner, all by himself, was LaMarcus Aldridge, listening to headphones. As I wrote in my game story following the win over the Thunder, Aldridge looked focused and intent.

Last year, having seen LaMarcus in this mood, I probably would have given him his space. But the relationship with a player that has probably grown the most for me this season has been with Aldridge. There used to be times when I thought L.A. could be cold, and a little sharp with words. But I've come to appreciate him - he is totally real. There's no B.S. with him - he's not trying to impress anyone and he isn't going to pretend to like you. With L.A., you are either in or you're out, there's not much middle ground. And no matter where you stand with him, he won't be afraid to let you know his feelings. I respect that.

Even though he was listening to his music, I mouthed 'What's up?' ... He took off one of his earphones and picked up the article that was in The Oklahoman, saying that ESPN's Ric Bucher was going to write that Oklahoma City has a brighter future than the Blazers.

It irked Aldridge, who is the master at finding perceived slights to motivate himself. What really irritated him, though, was that he personally couldn't refute Bucher's lack-of-a-superstar claim against the Blazers.

Still, after he had 35 points and 18 rebounds against the Thunder, Aldridge said he did take the article personally.

"I took it personally as far as Brandon is concerned,'' Aldridge said. "Brandon has proven that he's an All-Star and he has led us the whole year. I felt it was disrespectful to him. But people, you know, are going to write things.''

Hoperunsdeep alert ... Here comes Jesus

I know I probably shouldn't do this, because the last time I mentioned that Aldridge took home a book entitled "God's Game Plan", a poster named hoperunsdeep went off the "deep" end, so-to-speak, about religion. So before this anecdote is revealed, relax 'hope'. This is basketball, and most people come here to discuss the game and learn about the players. Seriously, everyone for that matter, chill on the religion bashing.

At any rate, it was humorous Friday night as I interviewed Aldridge after the game with a line of questioning about the general lack of national respect. His teammates have heard it all before, especially one of Aldridge's better buddies on the team, Travis Outlaw.

As Aldridge was telling me he was used to snubs and being overlooked, Outlaw chimed in.

"Hey, they hated on Jesus, so who am I?,'' Outlaw said, leaning his head into the conversation. "That's what you should tell them, L.A.''

Aldridge half-chuckled and tried to get back on his train of thought. Undeterred, Outlaw turned his attention to me.

"Quick, tell them he said that,'' Outlaw said. "Say L.A. said 'They hated on Jesus, so who am I?' ''

"No,'' Aldridge interjected. "That's a quote by Travis. I would never say something like that in my life.''

Prior to that, Aldridge and I had a conversation about the media. The players are all convinced that the media in general is after the controversial story. I continually tell them I'm after the truth.

So when Travis kept pushing for Aldridge and the Jesus quote, L.A. offered defense.

"He said he's about the truth, he can't make up a lie,'' Aldridge said.

The whole time, Outlaw is having a ball, simultaneously trying to push L.A.'s buttons while also testing me.

"Man, Travis is feeling himself,'' Aldridge said in amazement.

Not to be lost in all of this ... Outlaw played only 18 minutes and had nine points. There was no sulking, no worrying about his numbers or shots. I'm telling you all, this team is in a good place as far as playing time, roles, and chemistry.

In case you didn't notice, the Blazers wore their red uniforms Friday against Oklahoma City. That decision is made by equipment manager/assistant trainer Geoff Clark. The red uniforms are considered the Blazers' "alternate" road uniform and NBA rules state that teams can wear the alternate uniforms no more than 15 times a season.

Usually, Clark will break out the reds for special occasions - Christmas, a big rivalry game, etc. I asked him why he did on Friday.

"Just a feeling I have,'' Clark said. "It's a feeling I have for the whole trip.''

So there you have it, red uniforms for the rest of the trip.

Odds and ends

I've wondered how much these guys are reading this stuff ... and still not totally sure. But I got an inkling on Friday night when Rudy Fernandez summoned me over to his locker. "Hey, my girlfriend,'' Rudy said smiling. "She like what you write.'' In the last Behind the Locker Room Door segment, I commented on how Rudy's achy gait improved once he saw his girlfriend in the back hall. For those of you who haven't seen her, she's striking ... In the last segment, I also mentioned that Joel Przybilla is one of five centers who hasn't missed a game this season. "Yeah, but they are all kids...'' Przybilla said in reference to Brook Lopez, Marc Gasol, Samuel Dalembert and Emeka Okafur. A little later, he came out of the training room and requested that I find out which centers lead the league in games played over the past two seasons ... For that, I will have to page the Blazers' trusty intern, Aaron Grossman, who is by far and away the best the Blazers have had in my time in digging up stats, trends, and records. Long among the league worst in game notes, the Blazers this season have elevated toward the top of the league and it's all because of Grossman. The kid is a whiz and a natural for this biz ... Don't tell that to communications director Jim Taylor, who sent out a media-wide text during Friday's game that Aldridge's career high for rebounds was 16. Earlier in the game, as it appeared L.A. was on a record pace, I looked up his career high and found it to be 17. When I informed Taylor, he was chagrined. "That's the last time I trust an Oregon Ducks intern,'' Taylor, a devoted Beaver, said in mock disgust. "From now on, it's only Oregon State interns.'' By the end of the game, Grossman had made up for his gaffe, digging up that the 35-point victory was the largest in the history of the Sonics/Thunder series and that it had been since 1978 that the Blazers had won four consecutive games by 20 or more points. "He made up for it,'' Taylor said.